• CT WC Commission Posts New CRB Opinion

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“Read the following Compensation Review Board Opinion, newly posted to our website: Henry v. City of Ansonia, (Case No. 5674 CRB-4-11-8) - August 8, 2012.” SOURCE: Connecticut Workers’ Compensation Commission

• July 2012 Sets Temperature Record

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”July 2012 marked the hottest month on record for the contiguous United States. ”Drought expands to cover nearly 63 percent of the Lower 48; wildfires consume two million acres.” SOURCE: NOAA.gov

• Connecticut Job Fair 12 September in Danbury

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The Connecticut Department of Labor will kick-off its fall series of job and career fair events with a return visit to Danbury’s Ethan Allen Inn on Sept. 12. “The event, co-sponsored by Cumulus Media, Danbury Chamber of Commerce and the City of Danbury, will take place in the hotel’s ballroom from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.” INFORMATION: CTDOL

• I-9 Form Is About To Expire: What Should I Do?

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"The current Employment Eligibility Verification Form, commonly referred to as Form I-9, expires August 31, 2012. Once it expires, what should employers do? ”All U.S. employers must complete and retain a Form I-9 for each individual they hire for employment in the United States. This includes citizens and noncitizens.” SOURCE: Business & Legal Resources

• NLRB: Mere Suggestion that Employee Not Discuss Employer’s Ongoing Investigation Violates Labor Law

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”The National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) has ruled that an Arizona hospital violated the National Labor Relations Act (“NLRA”) just by its human resources consultant asking employees interviewed in connection with an internal investigation not discuss the matter with their co-workers while the investigation was ongoing.” Banner Health System d/b/a Banner Estrella Med. Ctr., 358 NLRB 93 (July 30, 2012). SOURCE: JacksonLewis.com

• U.S. Employment Situation – July 2012

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Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 163,000 in July, and the unemployment rate was essentially unchanged at 8.3 percent. Employment rose in professional and business services, food services and drinking places, and manufacturing. Unemployment: Both the number of unemployed persons (12.8 million) and the unemployment rate (8.3 percent) were essentially unchanged in July. Both measures have shown little movement thus far in 2012. Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rate for Hispanics (10.3 percent) edged down in July, while the rates for adult men (7.7 percent), adult women (7.5 percent), teenagers (23.8 percent), whites (7.4 percent), and blacks (14.1 percent) showed little or no change. The jobless rate for Asians was 6.2 percent in July (not seasonally adjusted), little changed from a year earlier. In July, the number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks and over) was little changed at 5.2 million. These individuals accounted for 40.7 percent of the unemployed. (See table A-12.) Employment: Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 163,000 in July. Since the beginning of this year, employment growth has averaged 151,000 per month, about the same as the average monthly gain of 153,000 in 2011. In July, employment rose in professional and business services, food services and drinking places, and manufacturing. Employment in professional and business services increased by 49,000 in July. Computer systems design added 7,000 jobs, and employment in temporary help services continued to trend up (+14,000). Within leisure and hospitality, employment in food services and drinking places rose by 29,000 over the month and by 292,000 over the past 12 months. Manufacturing employment rose in July (+25,000), with nearly all of the increase in durable goods manufacturing. Within durable goods, the motor vehicles and parts industry had fewer seasonal layoffs than is typical for July, contributing to a seasonally adjusted employment increase of 13,000. Employment continued to trend up in fabricated metal products (+5,000). Employment continued to trend up in health care in July (+12,000), with over-the-month gains in outpatient care centers (+4,000) and in hospitals (+5,000). Employment also continued to trend up in wholesale trade. Utilities employment declined in July (-8,000). The decrease reflects 8,500 utility workers who were off payrolls due to a labor-management dispute. Employment in other major industries, including mining and logging, construction, retail trade, transportation and warehousing, financial activities, and government, showed little or no change over the month. Hours of Work:The average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls was unchanged at 34.5 hours in July. Both the manufacturing workweek, at 40.7 hours, and factory overtime, at 3.2 hours, were unchanged over the month. The average workweek for production and nonsupervisory employees on private nonfarm payrolls was unchanged at 33.7 hours. Wages: In July, average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls edged up by 2 cents to $23.52. Over the year, average hourly earnings rose by 1.7 percent. In July, average hourly earnings of private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees increased by 2 cents to $19.77. Source: USDOL-BLS

• Connecticut's Employment Situation - June 2012

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Preliminary June employment estimates for Connecticut show mixed signs entering the summer months. The unemployment rate for the state rose by three-tenths of a percentage point to 8.1%, while the state added 1,400 jobs (0.1%). Essential private sector job growth in June, however, came in at a strong 5,000 (0.4%) pace led by a gain in the education and health services industry (3,800, 1.2%). Private sector statewide job growth continued to be offset by large government declines (-3,600, -1.5%) last month, especially from local public administration (-2,900, -1.9%). ”June’s mixed results are a mirror of the strengths and weaknesses of the current job market,” said Andy Condon, Director of the agency’s Office of Research. “Overall job growth is slow, though the private sector continues to show a decent recovery. Unfortunately, the jump in our unemployment rate indicates we are not growing jobs fast enough to satisfy the need in our economy.” Industries: Five of Connecticut’s ten major employing industries showed job increases in June 2012, while five industries experienced employment declines: Growth: Education and health services, leisure and hospitality, construction and mining, manufacturing, and professional and business services. Decline: Government; other services; financial activities; information; and trade, transportation, and utilities. Labor Market Areas: Three of the six major Connecticut LMAs had job gains in June 2012, while three declined: Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk had the best gain in June, adding 1,900 jobs (0.5%). New Haven also increased employment strongly with a 1,700 gain (0.6%). Norwich-New London (900, 0.7%) had its second monthly gain in a row. Danbury lost the most jobs this month (-600, -0.9%). This was followed by Waterbury (-400, -0.6%) and Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford (-300, -0.1%). Average Hours of Work: The workweek for employees in the private sector, not seasonally adjusted, averaged 33.8 hours in June 2012, unchanged from the June 2011 figure. Average Earnings: Average hourly earnings at $27.75, not seasonally adjusted, are now down thirteen cents, or -0.5% lower than June 2011. The resulting average private sector weekly pay estimate was $937.95, down $4.39, or -0.5% over the year. Source: CTDOL